Open letter to the VA

[unhappycamper]

Aaron Hughes
Branch of service: Army National Guard of the United States (ARNG)
Unit: 1244th Trans. Co. North Riverside, IL National Guard
Rank: Sgt. E-5
Home: Chicago, Illinois
Served in: Fort McCoy Wisconsin Camp Arifjan Kuwait (CS missions to Iraq


http://www.ivaw.org/node/1674

Open letter to the VA
by Aaron Hughes | Mon, 09/10/2007 - 3:09pm

This is an open letter to
James S. Jones
Medical Center Director
Department of Veterans Affairs
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Director Jones, James S.

Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded by Iraq war veterans in July 2004 at the annual convention of Veterans for Peace (VFP) in Boston to give a voice to the large number of active duty service people and veterans who are against this war, but are under various pressures to remain silent.

From its inception, IVAW has called for immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq; reparations for the destruction and corporate pillaging of Iraq so that Iraqi people can control their own lives and future; and full benefits, adequate healthcare – including mental health – and other supports for returning servicemen and women.

Today, IVAW members are in 43 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and on numerous bases overseas, including Iraq. IVAW currently has 22 chapters around the country and in Canada. IVAW members educate the public about the realities of the Iraq war by speaking in communities and to the media about their experiences. IVAW supports all those resisting the war, including Conscientious Objectors and others facing military prosecution for their refusal to fight. IVAW advocates for full funding for the Veterans Administration, and full quality health treatment (including mental health) and benefits for veterans when they return from duty.

Continually our government has pushed aside this new generation of veterans while at the same time that it rallying behind the rhetoric of “support the troops.” We Iraq War Veterans are tired of being used by different political machines and are standing up to take care of our own. In this regard we are interested in reminding this nation that “supports the troops” of the lack of funding and support given to the Veterans Administration, the difficulty for Iraq Veterans to attain help from the VA system, the two year time restraint on Iraq Veterans to attain medical support (especially when PTSD is known to begin surfacing up to two years after deployment), the lack of testing for Depleted Uranium and Traumatic Brain Injury, the inadequate facilities for female soldiers, the list goes on.

Iraq Veterans Against the War attempted to serve free lemonade, water, fruit, and bagels to veterans and family members - and reach out to them with our pro-veteran, anti-war message – at the Jesse Brown VA Hospital on Friday, September 7th, from 11am to 1pm. The hospital is located at 820 S. Damen in Chicago. The action was a part of IVAW’s effort to illuminate the need for funding of the VA Hospitals, challenge the continued funding of the occupation of Iraq, and show grassroots support for veterans.

Despite the fact that we are veterans and have a right to speak with our fellow veterans at the VA Hospital, upon our arrival we were immediately asked to leave and escorted off the premises. In a time when there are more and more young homeless veterans, politicians are blinding our nation into funding a war that is killing the troops instead of funding the VA that is needed by the troops, and when young veterans are being dismissed by the systems set up specifically to support them, it must be acknowledged that change is needed.

As a veteran I believe I earned the right to assist, support, and speak with my fellow veterans on the Veterans Administrations property. I ask that the Veterans Administration reconsidered its position on allowing IVAW on VA property and that we are allowed to show our support for our fellow veterans by passing out free food and beverages.

Thank you,
Aaron Hughes
[e-mail]
President of the Chicago Chapter
Iraq Veterans Against the War

PS After being kicked off VA property IVAW set up across the street and served over 100 of our fellow veterans. We plan on continuing to reach out to our fellow veterans in what ever way we can whether the VA system that we support allows it or not.

[hobbit709]

1. We need more of this.

Let the clowns know that trying to help other vets has nothing to do with politics. Unfortunately this maladministration has politicized everything.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. OK, here's where I start to back away...

Every time I go to the VA hospital I have an almost uncontrollable urge to tear into that picture of Shrub right at the entrance. Now that I'm a pacifist Quaker, I'd love nothing more than to spread the message of the Peace Testimony there.

But, the last thing the patients, staff, or anyione else needs is any sort of peace protest, even my speaking of Peace. Rightly or wrongly, those WWII vets aren't going to listen and are going to consider it a slap in the face.

Nope, free stuff and a political message may be what they need there, but it ain't gonna work and the VA ain't gonna put up with it.